Alcabideche (Portugal). On 4 May 2025, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Our Lady of Fatima Province (POR) celebrated the 70th anniversary of its birth. The day of celebration of gratitude to God and Mary, took place at St. Joseph House in Alcabideche, Manique, to give the elderly sisters the opportunity to participate.
On 11 January 2025, the POR Province celebrated its 85th anniversary of presence in Portugal. The first FMA arrived in Portugal, through Spain, on 11 January 1940, a bond that lasted until 1954. On 3 November 1954, Our Lady of Fatima Province (POR), based in Monte Estoril, was canonically erected.
The 10 Communities that make up the Province, with 92 sisters, met to thank the Lord and each other for the courage, daring, and apostolic ardor of the beginnings of this portion of the Institute.
The day began with the Eucharistic Celebration, thanksgiving par excellence, celebrated by Father Tarcízio Morais, Provincial of Saint Anthony Province (POR) of the Salesians of Don Bosco who, with two other SDB, also shared dinner with the FMA.
The Communities then recalled the humble but heroic origins of the Province. Each Community, based on the theme proposed, “A journey of hope that continues,” recalled the origin of the work, community life, fraternal relationship, pastoral action of the community, in the flow of life along these 70 years. The atmosphere of joy, poverty, and fraternity of the beginnings was highlighted.
Also presented were old photos and songs that animated the moments of conviviality, which were also an eloquent testimony for those who listened to them from the street and were contagioned by the joy they perceived.
Through a game-quiz, the names of some Sisters were guessed, starting from the qualities and the Salesian apostolic lifestyle that were presented. Many of these Sisters already enjoy eternal happiness. It was lovely and encouraging for the participants to reflect on these testimonies of life dedicated to young people in need. Without doubt, remembering these examples makes us grow in fraternity and in the family spirit.
The beautiful day of celebration and gratitude ended with a word of thanks from the Provincial, Sister Deolinda Teixeira, and the surprise of a message from Mother Chiara Cazzuola, who encouraged the FMA of the Province to continue on this path of hope and commitment.
